The Plague War Begins

How high does one have to be to be considered a high-ranking official?

Looking at the Holy Terra, which had changed so much, Kaul couldn't help but think of himself ten thousand years ago.

At that time, he was just an ordinary Enginseer, and even his qualification as Tech-Priest was imposed on him, because only priests could be called human by the Adeptus Mechanicus, Enginseer below him were just expendable materials.

This seems like a good thing, but it's not a good thing for him, simply because it's a title that his teacher asked for.

The teacher was a jerk, but before he could really screw him over, the teacher killed him and turned him into Servitor Skulls.

The somewhat radical Kaul couldn't survive on Mars. He thought everyone was an idiot, and because he offended too many people and liked to do dirty tricks behind their backs, Kaul was eventually exiled to Kiavahr.

Logically speaking, being far from the emperor's reach is not bad, but unfortunately, Kiavahr is a bottomless pit. It's not that there are any Necron tomb in this world— Necron tomb are bombs for others, but treasures for Mechanicus.

This sinkhole is not in Kiavahr, but on a nearby moon called Lycaeus, which is Kiavahr's mining world.

The Adeptus Mechanicus is known for its Ruinous Depletion, which is why the miners of Lycaeus have always lived in dire straits.

But Lycaeus has an even more resounding name: Salvation Star!

When you're down on your luck, even drinking cold water can cause problems. I thought I could build my own Forge World, but before I could even settle in, Atlas showed up, and the Raven Guard also found their Primarch.

Back then, the Raven Guard weren't the Raven Guard they are now; they were more like World Eaters. Coupled with Atlas, who called himself a barbarian, the Kiavahr were practically all Servitor in reserve.

But fate is so ironic; what seemed like a catastrophe turned into an opportunity for Kaul.

In a single glance, Kaul witnessed Atlas's true nature and was highly regarded by Mordred, who arranged for him to enter the Mars headquarters and even received a personal reception from the then -Forge Lord.

From then on, Kaul had a smooth and successful life, seeing only smiling faces and hearing only kind words from those below him. But he knew this was not because of himself, but because of the Primarch standing behind him.

I will die for you, like a dragon soaring high, to repay your kindness on the Golden Terrace. I must become such a courageous person. I will climb step by step to the highest point. I want to be the Forge Lord!

Kaul was undoubtedly a genius. Even after Atlas disappeared, he was a true Arch-Magos of Forging and had learned Atlas's traditional skills, specializing in biological modification.

But as Mordred vanished, all memories and records about Atlas turned into gibberish, Kaul instantly bewildered.

He forgot everything, but he never forgot Atlas's motto: When the sky falls, Atlas rises. He, Belisarius Kaul, would be the giant of the new era.

But the empire's decline is undeniable. Kaul discovers that even Forge Lord cannot save the empire. If the empire cannot be made great again, then let the flames of war reignite and the galaxy burn!

He needed a partner, a strong person who could shoulder this great responsibility, and that person was Robert Guilliman.

Ten thousand years later, Atlas returned once more, and Belisarius Kaul had achieved great success. He was no longer the Enginseer who needed the Primarch's recommendation, but instead became the one standing behind the Primarch.

My subordinates' subordinates are no longer my subordinates. Kaul chose Guilliman, but he will never forget this favor.

Upon receiving Mordred's summons, Kaul set aside all his affairs and traveled to Holy Terra in his true form, bringing with him his Alpha Primus.

The thought of what was about to happen made Kaul's mechanical tentacles twitch involuntarily.

"Legend has it that the Marquis, a loyal and valiant warrior from Mars, is none other than the mechanical Arch-Magos, Kaul!"

"We're back, everything's back." Upon hearing this familiar address, Kaul, a behemoth unit, wriggled and pushed open the Imperial Palace gates.

"Hey! Long time no see, Kaul, you've done pretty well, you even have stars on your chest."

"Good day, Your Highness. You are as witty and humorous as ever."

At this moment, just like at that time, looking at Mordred who was still the same as before, Kaul's obsession was finally fulfilled. He had not failed that kindness. The era of the Primarch had not ended, but instead borne abundant fruit. He immediately signaled Deucalion to bring out the gift.

"Your Highness, this is your favorite Chagoris milk."

"You're here, why bring a gift! I'd rather you call me 'Boss' than 'Your Highness,' but it's fine this way, your achievements are already second to none, it's only natural for you to establish your own sect."

As fellow imperial Big Mek technology, Mordred prioritized Kaul directly to the underground research institute deep within the Imperial Palace to demonstrate his optimized Primaris Modification 2.0 solution.

"That Belisarian Furnace is fantastic. It essentially gave the Primaris Space Marine a chance to continue fighting, Sinew Coils further enhanced the soldiers' basic strength and defense."

But this Magnificat is problematic. I can tell at a glance that this is your work. It's far too radical. This organ is clearly a knock-off of the Immortal Gland of the Primarch.

It can secrete hormones to enhance the body's advanced systems, allowing Space Marine to achieve a revolutionary improvement. I guess that's why you call them Primaris Space Marine.

However, you lack a prerequisite skill, which is why the failure rate for older Space Marine during their second Primaris Conversion was so high—because you don't know Biochemical Alchemy.

This is not criticism, but praise. Given the existing technology, Kaul managed to create Primaris Space Marine that achieves a balance in combat effectiveness, stability, and cost-effectiveness, which is already quite impressive.

Especially in this era where the older the better and the ancestral laws cannot be changed, altering the Space Marine surgery would be a blasphemous act, and Kaul would face enormous risks; if discovered, he would be attacked by the masses.

Fortunately, the Biochemical Alchemy was not lost. Only two people in the entire empire possessed this technology that could create Primarch: the Emperor and Mordred.

Looking at the Magnificat before him, which had undergone a second optimization and had its self-healing ability enhanced once again, Kaul knew he had come to the right place. He slammed his staff into Deucalion's knee, causing the Alpha Primus Head to kneel on the spot. "Call me Father!"

"Ah?"

"Father!"

Deucalion cried out with great satisfaction. In his eyes, Kaul was his creator. He didn't believe in Emperor or Primarch, but trusted Kaul above all else.

But Mordred wasn't willing. He wasn't like Whitebeard, always going around claiming sons; this guy wasn't Art—

"Wait a minute, I can't be too certain. I need to verify this properly."

Kaul watched Mordred having his blood drawn for tests and questioning his existence, then Deucalion naked and placed him on the Operating Table for repeated tests, after which he also questioned his existence repeatedly.

Finally, Mordred couldn't take it anymore and took out a piece of Radiant Gold to experiment with, but then felt it was a bit of a waste, so he finally took out a piece of Adamantium and threw it in front of Deucalion.

After a brief moment of restraint, Deucalion couldn't resist the temptation and picked up the piece of Adamantium in an instant, faster than Space Marine could.

This result was devastating; even if Mordred was unwilling to admit it, he had to acknowledge that this strange Astartes named Deucalion contained elements of his.

To say that Deucalion is Astartes wouldn't be accurate; he's not Canned One. On paper, the average Adeptus Custodes would be no match for him. He's comparable to the Primarch, but he's not the Primarch.

This so-called Alpha Primus has no Primarch essence, but it has all the Primarch's genetic characteristics. It is more like a Mordred's Chimera, and it is a counterfeit Primarch built entirely from materials.

He possesses Psychic Power, can stealth like Corvus Corax, and can Psychic Empathy with Angron. He has almost every Legion's special abilities, including Atlas's super resistance.

But Deucalion is not Mordred; he lacks the higher-dimensional properties that can unify everything. Instead, these powers would keep him in constant torment.

If the other brothers saw this, Mordred was certain that even Guilliman would punch Kaul to pieces. This wasn't just ordinary blasphemy; it was blatant mockery.

"Tell me, do you want me to cure him?"

"Boss, you really can't hide anything from me."

"No, don't call me boss. I don't have a follower like you. Just call me Your Highness. Even I wouldn't do something like this; it's too ironic."

But then again, Kaul, have you forgotten what I told you before?

"Do not impose your feelings on your creations," the Arch-Magos replied.

"But Your Highness, he is not one of those mindless creatures of flesh and blood. Even His Majesty made this mistake, and you have not followed it either."

Deucalion is my pride. I watched him grow up day by day. It took me a full 300 years to bring him into this world. He is my—my most perfect experiment!

In the end, Kaul didn't utter the word, but instead pulled out the Blood of the Source Repository from his pocket.

Mordred eventually accepted the task, performing restorative treatment on Kaul's son and ordering Kaul to implement a new generation of reconstructive surgeries throughout the Empire.

Everything was progressing in the right direction, and everyone had their own work. But just as they were carrying out Second Founding and began a major military reform, their hometown was robbed.

Seeing the plea for help from Macragge and the plague rapidly spreading from the Ultramar 500 Worlds, Mordred knew that the Four Merchants were finally starting to exert their influence.

The Plague War has begun!